The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

UPC: 014633146189

Platform: Nintendo GameCube

Publisher: EA Games

Developer: Stormfront Studios

Category: Action

Style(s): Third-Person 3D Action

Synopsis: In this action game based on 2002's cinematic retelling of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Two Towers, players assume the roles of Aragorn, Legolas, or Gimli as they battle legions of goblins and orcs while using each character's sword, bow, or axe. The third-person title takes place across 16 levels inspired by the first two films in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Stock photos and conceptual drawings from New Line Cinema were used to build 3D maps of the various outdoor and indoor locales. Players will revisit the Mines of Moria in a chaotic battle against a Cave Troll, one of the game's five bosses, and eventually confront the corrupted wizard Saruman himself. The development team reportedly analyzed the films frame by frame to study each character's movements so they could be re-created in digital form. Instead of advancing through a series of one-on-one encounters, players will be thrust in combat with enemies coming from all sides and directions. Composer Howard Shore's musical score sets the tone for the epic battles that follow. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Package Contents: 34-page Instruction Manual

Controls: Joystick/Gamepad

Players need not read the manual to beat the game, and the first level serves as a tutorial for some of the moves available to characters. The documentation includes brief character bios, a storyline, and a list of controls. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

The graphics have improved over the PlayStation 2 game, which was pretty to look at. Visuals are sharper and the frame rate is noticeably smooth even during some of the more intense battles near the end of the game. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

In what may be the most impressive symbiosis of film and game yet released, Electronic Arts' take on The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers effectively re-stages the most memorable action sequences from the epic trilogy's first two films and seamlessly integrates them with movie footage. Howard Shore's moving score provides the backbone for the action scenes that follow, and voice-overs recorded by cast members add authenticity to the production. The result will certainly please action-minded fans of the films, and the look of the characters, the fluidity of their movements, and the special effect-laden environments quickly draw players into the game. Action sequences are fun to play based on the quality of the presentation and flexibility offered in combat. Aragorn defends against attacks by quickly sweeping his sword in a figure eight motion; Legolas fires explosive arrows with lightning speed; and Gimli cuts a swath through enemies with his massive axe. Each character offers multiple attacks and acquires new techniques as the game progresses. The scant selection of three characters is a disappointment, however, as players never have an opportunity to step into the hairy feet of Frodo or don the pointed hat of Gandalf, both of whom are relegated to supporting roles. On the bright side, each of the three playable characters is perhaps the best suited for combat, and all possess enough variations in play styles for fans to revisit levels. The Two Towers is not a long game, however, and there are several missed opportunities to make it more expansive. For starters, it would have been nice to play as all the characters from the Fellowship, especially since they fight alongside the lead character during certain sequences. The environments are also deceptively small, with linear paths that fail to offer multiple routes -- while players can break wooden barriers or logs to continue onward, they must always follow a specific course. This is likely the reason why none of the characters are able to jump, since the next logical step would be to climb the ravines to engage archers or to leap over fire instead of breaking barrels to douse it. The lack of a jump seems especially damaging to Aragorn, who should be far more agile than he is (there's also no way to duck or roll by directly pressing a button). Combat is generally satisfying, however, since the game rewards players for parrying, using combination attacks, and timing their swings instead of blindly hacking away. There is a rhythm to the fighting with the parry button, so players have a second to think about their next moves. Each attack is rated on the screen as excellent, perfect, good, or fair, with better attacks translating to higher experience points at the end of the stage. Experience increases a character's level as well as his skill set, special moves unique to each character that are purchased using the points earned from combat. Thus, the more adept a player is at performing combos, the quicker he or she will be able to learn additional attacks. Environments are often striking, which helps players forgive their relatively confining nature. Atmospheric fog is used as well as breakaway walls and falling rocks, excellent fire effects, billowing black smoke, and reflections in the swamps and rivers players sludge through. The battle at Helm's Deep is a stunner, with balls of fire briefly lighting up the night sky before slamming into a beleaguered keep. Players race through one of the levels fighting orcs and knocking down ladders to prevent the foul creatures from breeching the walls -- all while avoiding environmental hazards along the way. The drawback is there's little interactivity with the scenery except for the odd chest or barrel, so players can't pick up weapons found on the ground or use scenery objects as another form of attack. In fact, there are no power-ups or special items at all other than health pick-ups, which is unusual for titles in the genre. The game looks bigger than it actually is with pathways that abruptly end or are conveniently blocked off, forcing players to follow a pre-determined route. To break up some of the monotony, some levels involve defeating a set amount of orcs, while others involve protecting a party member or even a town from an enemy horde. Adding to the ambience is a dynamic soundtrack and character voices that change depending on the situation. Frodo, for example, will yell out for Legolas, Gandalf, or another character to help him while in battle. The combat is fluid and responsive but not highly challenging -- enemies don't put up much of a fight with the lone exception of the creatures with long pikes that make close combat difficult. Yet the game isn't necessarily easy at first, primarily because it is not always clear what a player is supposed to do during the boss encounters. One of the first bosses, the Watcher, whips its tentacles around the screen with such force and speed that a player's first reaction is to jump. Unfortunately there is no jump button, so players must use trial and error to see what works and what doesn't against the enemy. The result is to continuously use the block attack until the creature's tentacles stay motionless for a few seconds, then slice at them. This causes the Watcher's head to emerge as players switch to their ranged attack to find its weakness. This uncertainty during boss encounters also carries into some of the featured levels, especially during "The Plains of Rohan" sequence, where pockets of deadly fire rage throughout. With graphics prettier than Arwen and gameplay shorter than Bilbo Baggins, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers ends up a mixed bag. It's hard not to be impressed by the flawless transition sequences between film clips and in-game graphics, and it's hard not to relish certain scenes as players get to relive the climactic battles found in the two movies. Yet the linear nature of stages and lack of secrets other than interview clips, one extra character, and an additional level significantly hurts the title's replay value. GameCube owners looking for enhancements like two-player support, a different playable character, or other console-specific features are in for a letdown, as the game is virtually identical to the earlier PlayStation 2 release. A nice companion piece to the films, but not as epic as one would have hoped. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

A total of four playable characters are available, one of which needs to be unlocked. The lack of a two-player option is a disappointment, and the levels aren't nearly as long as they could be. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

The use of Howard Shore's cinematic score (in Dolby Surround) heightens the mood during the battles, and nice touches like the sound of Boromir blowing the Horn of Gondor make the game enjoyable to play. All of the characters feature voice-overs by the original cast. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

A fun hack-and-slash game that owes much of its entertainment value to the cinematic presentation. Combat is solid but the game is too short. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

the game requires Joystick/Gamepad.